Cap with one or more openings for receiving a bundle of hair

ABSTRACT

In accordance with the present invention, an article of headwear includes a main body having a front portion and an opposite rear portion. The main body has a closeable opening (e.g., slit) formed therein and extending along a length thereof. The article of headwear also includes a fastener mechanism disposed along closeable opening for selectively closing at least two portions of the closeable opening. The fastener is configured such that it defines ends of the opening and permits both a location and length of the opening to be varied. The fastener can be in the form of a zipper with two sliders located along the zipper track.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 61/704,315, filed Sep. 21, 2012, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention is generally directed to an item of wearing apparel and in particular to a cap, hat, or similar item of headwear that has one or more openings formed with an associated mechanism for modifying one or more of the location and size of the opening, thereby allowing a bundle of hair (e.g., ponytail) to pass therethrough.

BACKGROUND

As is known, there are a number of different types of headwear ranging from sports caps to seasonal hats to more decorative headwear. Likewise, headwear can be formed from a wide variety of different materials.

For wearer's that have long hair, such as many women, wearing a headwear article can be difficult since it is often hard to accommodate the long hair underneath the headwear article. As is known, many baseball style caps have a rear opening proximate a size adjustment member which can be a plastic strip, a hook and loop material strap, etc. While a person can try to pass a bundle of hair (e.g., ponytail) through this opening, there are many associated disadvantages. First, the location of the opening is fixed and in many cases, is at a less than optimal location and second, the opening is too big to truly capture and bundle the hair and therefore, the person must use a hair tie in combination with the hat.

While U.S. Pat. No. D504,003 discloses a design for a cap with opening means, there are certain limitations associated therewith. The '003 patent does not specifically describe an intended function for the cap and therefore, the cap generally provides an opening that could serve to vent the head amongst other things. In addition, the openings means is not suitable for creating a bounded opening that can tightly hold a bundle of hair and have a variable location along the cap. As a result, the '003 cap is not particularly well suited for wearing with a ponytail, pig tails, etc.

There is therefore a need to provide headwear that has an opening means that can be readily and easily varied in terms of both its location and its size. The present invention provides such a solution.

SUMMARY

In accordance with the present invention, an article of headwear includes a main body having a front portion and an opposite rear portion. The main body has a closeable opening formed therein and extending along a length thereof. The degree of closure of this opening can thus be varied. The article of headwear also includes a fastener mechanism disposed along closeable opening for selectively closing at least two portions of the closeable opening. The fastener is configured such that it defines ends of the opening and permits both a location and length of the opening to be varied.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

FIG. 1 is top plan view showing a first article of headwear (e.g., a hat) with a bounded opening in a first location in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the headwear of FIG. 1 with a bounded opening in the first location showing a ponytail passing therethrough;

FIG. 3 is top plan view showing a first article of headwear (e.g., a hat) with a bounded opening in a second location in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the headwear of FIG. 3 with a bounded opening in the second location showing a ponytail passing therethrough;

FIG. 5 is top plan view showing a first article of headwear (e.g., a hat) with a pair of bounded openings in a first location in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of the headwear of FIG. 5 with the bounded opening receiving pigtails which pass therethrough;

FIG. 7 is top plan view showing a first article of headwear (e.g., a hat) with a pair of bounded openings in a second location in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of the headwear of FIG. 7 with the bounded opening receiving pigtails which pass therethrough;

FIG. 9 is a side and top perspective view of a knit cap with a bounded opening though which a ponytail passes;

FIG. 10 is rear elevation view of the knit cap of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 11 is a side elevation view of an article of headwear with a bounded opening according to another embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1-2 show an article of headwear 100 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The headwear 100 in the illustrated embodiment is in the form of a hat (baseball hat); however, it will be understood that the headwear 100 is not limited to being a hat and can take any number of other different forms, including knit hats, etc.

The hat 100 includes a main body 110 and a brim 150 extending outwardly therefrom. In particular, the main body 110 includes a front 112, a rear 114, sides 116 and a top surface 118. For purposes of discussion, the front 112 of the main body 110 is defined as being a front half of the main body 110 as measured from a center line 130 of the main body 110. Similarly, the rear 114 of the main body 110 is defined as being a rear half of the main body 110 as measured from the center line 130. The brim 150 extends outwardly from the front 112. As in many hat constructions, the main body 110 can be formed of multiple segments of material that are joined together as along seams that define the main body 110.

In accordance with the present invention, the main body 110 includes a first opening 200 that is formed in a select, predetermined area of the main body 110. The dimensions and location of the first opening 200 can vary depending upon the particular application. The first opening 200 can be in the form of an elongated slit formed in the main body 110. As mentioned, the dimensions (width, length, etc.) of the slit 200 can be varied and selected in view of different parameters including but not limited to the style and size of the main body 110.

The first opening 200 is also formed such that at least a length of the first opening 200 can be selectively closed. There are a number of different mechanisms that can be used to accomplish the foregoing function and more specifically, a fastener 300 can be used to selectively close a portion (length) the first slit 200. One particularly suitable fastener 300 is a zipper, which as is known is a commonly used device for temporarily joining two edges of the fabric. Most zipper constructions, such as zipper 300, include two strips of fabric tape 310, 312, each affixed to one of the two pieces to be joined, and each carrying a vast number of specially shaped teeth. The zipper 300 includes a slider 320 which is operated by hand and moves along the rows of teeth. Inside the slider 320 is a Y-shaped channel that meshes together or separates the opposing rows of teeth, depending upon the direction of the slider's movement.

In accordance with the present invention, the elongated slit (first opening) 200 includes two sliders 320 located along the zipper 300 formed along the slit 200 such that the two sliders 320 can move independent from one another. The use of two sliders 320 allows the wearer to create (define) a bounded opening (through hole) formed at a select target location along the slit 200. In other words, the two sliders 320 are positioned in select, desired locations along the slit 200 so as to form a bounded opening that has the desired dimensions (i.e., length as measured along the slit 200) and location (as measured along the slit 200), The opening 200 is bounded since it is enclosed on all sides (and ends). This is a marked improvement in comparison with previous attempts to allow passage of a bundle of hair (ponytail) through the hat 100 at one fixed location.

The use of two sliders 320 facilitates the desires and needs of different wearers since some wearers may wish for the bundle of hair (ponytail) to be located more rearward in the hat, while other wearers may wish for the bundle of hair (ponytail) to be located more centrally within the main body 110 of the hat 100. In addition, the size of the bounded openings can be changed by changing the distance between the two sliders 320, thereby facilitating different sized bundles of hair (by effectively capturing the bundle of hair between the sliders). For example, one wearer may prefer a ponytail that is formed of a larger bundle of hair and therefore, the bounded opening 200 needs to be larger compared to a wearer whose ponytail is smaller.

By having two independently movable sliders 320, both the location and size of the bounded opening can be selected and varied by the user to accommodate the fashion desires of different wearers.

For example, FIGS. 1 and 2 show a first location of the bounded opening defined between the two sliders 320.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show a second different location of the bounded opening defined between the two sliders 320. To create the bounded openings in the first and second locations, the user moves the sliders 320 to the target locations, thereby closing off a length (different sections) of the slot 200 (e.g., formed by zipper fabric tapes) but leaving an unzipped section which defines the bounded opening.

It will be appreciated that the bounded opening can be created by first positioning one slider 320 at a desired location and then moving the other slider 320 to the end of or close to the end of its travel on slot 200 so as to create a maximum permitted distance between the two sliders 320. The bundle of hair is passed through such opening and the other slider 320 is moved in a direction toward the one slider 320 (toward the bundle of hair) so as to capture and hold snugly the bundle of hair (ponytail) between the two sliders.

In one embodiment, the first opening 200 only extends rearwardly relative to a center line 130 of the main body 110. In other words, the first opening 200 can be entirely located within the rear 114 of the main body 110 since most ponytail wearers do not pass a ponytail in a direction that is formed of the center line 130 of the main body 110. Instead, most desire ponytails to extend rearwardly.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate another embodiment of the present invention which is particularly suited for pigtail wearers. In this embodiment, instead of having a single centrally location slit 200, the main body 110 of a hat 101 includes a pair of slits 200. Each slit 200 extends in a direction toward one side of the hat 100. The slits 200 are formed at an angle relative to one another and relative to a center line L shown in the figures. The center line L divides the hat 101 into a left section and an opposing right side. The center line L thus extends from front to rear. The slit 200 can be thought of as having two slit sections with the slit sections not being continuous. Instead, each slit section can terminate in a closed end at the center line. The zipper slide for the respective slit section thus can only extend to the center line L. Thus, each zipper is contained within one zipper section and the respective slider cannot extend across to the other zipper section.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show the hat 101 with the bounded openings 200 being moved to second locations relative to the first location of FIGS. 5 and 6. As will be appreciated, by moving the locations of the bounded openings 200 along the length of the fasteners 300, changes the trajectory of the pigtails and in particular, changes the locations at which the pigtails exit the hat 101. Similar to the single track 300 of the hat 100, the double tracks 300 permit the pair of bounded openings 200 to be readily changed by the user by manipulating the two sliders 320 to position the bounded openings 200 at the target locations and also define the proper size of the bounded openings 200. Once again, the location and size of the bounded openings 200 defined along the two zipper tracks 300 depend upon the personal tastes of the wearer and also based on the physical characteristics (e.g., size and length) of the pigtails.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show another embodiment of the present invention in which the teachings are incorporated into a different type of headwear and in particular, are incorporated into a winter knit cap (hat) 400. The knit hat 400 has a main body 410 that includes the slit 200 and the fastener construction (e.g., zipper) 300. As in the previous embodiments, the slit 200 can be located entirely within a rear section (rear of the center line) or can be located within the rear section and partially within the front section. The slit 200 includes the pair of sliders 320 to allow the bounded opening to be defined and to have both a desired location and desired size (e.g., distance between the two sliders 320).

FIG. 11 shows an article of headwear (hat) that is similar to the others described and illustrated herein. In this embodiment, one or more of the sliders 320 can include an accessory 325 that is coupled thereto. The accessory 325 is designed to provide an additional means for gathering the bundle of hair (e.g., the ponytail). For example, the accessory 325 can be in the form of a ring that is detachably coupled to the slider 320 (or is fixedly attached (integrally formed)) and is configured such that a portion of the bundle of hair can pass through the open interior of the accessory 325. The accessory 325 can be formed of a rigid material (plastic) and therefore provides some structure for additional bounding of the bundle of hair (resulting in a variable diameter). Alternatively, the accessory 325 can be formed of an elastic material that can readily expand and contract similar to an elastic hair tie. After passing through the bounded opening 200, the bundle of hair can pass through the open center of the accessory 325. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An article of headwear comprising: a main body having a front portion and an opposite rear portion, wherein the main body has a closeable opening formed therein and extending along a length thereof; and a fastener mechanism disposed along the closeable opening for selectively closing at least two portions of the closeable opening to thereby form a bounded through hole, wherein the fastener is configured such that it defines ends of the bounded through hole and permits both a location and length of the bounded through hole to be varied along the closeable opening.
 2. The article of headwear of claim 1, wherein the main body comprises a baseball cap.
 3. The article of headwear of claim 1, wherein the fastener mechanism comprises a pair of sliders that are part of a zipper that is disposed within the closeable opening, wherein the bounded through hole is defined between the pair of sliders.
 4. The article of headwear of claim 3, wherein the closeable opening comprises a slit formed in the main body and extending between the front portion and the opposite rear portion of the main body.
 5. The article of headwear of claim 4, wherein the slit includes a first end located in the front portion and an opposite second end located in the rear portion, the main body including a first set of teeth formed along one side edge of the slit and a second set of teeth formed along an opposite side edge of the slit, wherein zipped teeth formed by engaged teeth of the first and second sets are disposed between one slider and the first end and zipped teeth formed by engage teeth of the first and second sets are disposed between the other slider and the second end.
 6. The article of headwear of claim 1, wherein the main body includes a center axis that partitions the main body into a left section and a right section, the closeable opening being formed within both the left section and the right section.
 7. The article of headwear of claim 6, wherein the closeable opening comprises a first slit that is formed in the left section and a second slit that is formed in the right section.
 8. The article of headwear of claim 7, wherein a first end of the first slit terminates proximate the center axis and a first end of the second slit terminates proximate the center axis.
 9. The article of headwear of claim 8, wherein the first and second slits are formed so as to a V-shape.
 10. The article of headwear of claim 8, wherein the first slit includes a first zipper disposed therein and the second slit includes a second zipper disposed therein, the first zipper includes a first pair of sliders that travel along the first slit to define one bounded through hole along the first slit and the second zipper includes a second pair of sliders that travel along the second slit to define one bounded through hole along the second slit.
 11. An article of headwear comprising: a main body having a front portion and an opposite rear portion, wherein the main body has a first slit formed in the main body; and a zipper mechanism disposed within the first slit for selectively closing at least two portions of the first slit so as to define a bounded through hole that allows hair to pass therethrough, wherein the zipper mechanism includes a first set of teeth formed along one side edge of the first slit and a second set of teeth formed along the opposite side edge of the first slit and a pair of sliders configured to travel along and engage the first and second sets of teeth, the pair of sliders defining ends of the bounded through hole and permits both a location and length of the bounded through hole to be varied along the first slit.
 12. The article of headwear of claim 11, wherein at least one of the sliders includes a ring structure extending outwardly therefrom, the ring structure being configured to receive a strand of hair.
 13. The article of headwear of claim 12, wherein the ring is formed of an elastic material and has a variable diameter.
 14. The article of headwear of claim 12, wherein the ring is integrally formed with the slider.
 15. The article of headwear of claim 11, wherein the first slit is formed within both the front portion and the rear portion.
 16. The article of headwear of claim 11, wherein the main body has a second slit formed therein with first ends of the first and second slits being adjacent one another.
 17. A method for allowing a bundle of hair to pass through an article of headwear that includes a main body comprising the step of: adjusting a pair of sliders that are part of a zipper mechanism that is disposed within a first slit formed in the main body so as to define a bounded opening defined at a user selected location along the first slit and having a user selected length, the bundle of hair passing through the bounded opening. 